HiSET vs GED (2026): Which Is Easier? Cost, Format, Passing Scores & Which States
Chapters
- The Short Answer
- Who Runs Each Test
- Subjects and Time
- Question Formats
- Passing Scores
- Testing Online
- What It Costs
- Retakes
- Which States Offer Which
- Which Is Easier for You?
- Recap
Audio from the Open Exam Hub video of the same name; the video shows the numbers and practice questions on screen.
HiSET vs GED, side by side for 2026. Both lead to a state-issued high school equivalency credential. The GED is 4 subject tests (Math 115 min, Reasoning Through Language Arts 150 min with a 45-minute essay, Science 90, Social Studies 70), scored 100 to 200, and you need 145 on each. The HiSET is 5 subtests (Math 90 min, Science 80, Social Studies 70, Language Arts Reading 65, Language Arts Writing 120 with an essay), and you need at least 8 of 20 on every subtest, at least 2 of 6 on the essay, and a total of 45 of 100. We compare question formats (HiSET is mostly single-answer multiple choice; the GED adds drag and drop, drop-down, fill in the blank and select an area), online testing rules (GED needs a 'green' GED Ready score within 60 days), example state prices (Georgia: GED $46 per subject vs HiSET $34 per subtest; Tennessee: $36 vs $23), retake patterns, and which states appear on each official list as of October 2026 (examples: Iowa and Maine on HiSET's list only; Florida, Texas, New York and Virginia on the GED list only; California, Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee on both). Prices, retakes and availability are set by your state, so check your state's page. The 'which is easier' section is our own view, not an official ranking. Independent guide, not affiliated with GED Testing Service, PSI or ETS.
Full guide
HiSET practice test
GED practice test
HiSET cheat sheet
GED cheat sheet
Video: GED, how to pass each of the four tests faster
Free practice questions, study guides and cheat sheets, no signup
Chapters
0:00 The Short Answer
0:54 Who Runs Each Test
1:22 Subjects and Time
2:07 Question Formats
2:44 Passing Scores
3:27 Testing Online
4:18 What It Costs
5:12 Retakes
5:57 Which States Offer Which
6:41 Which Is Easier for You?
7:34 Recap
Exam facts are from the official GED Testing Service (ged.com) and HiSET (hiset.org, PSI) pages as of 2026-10-23. Fees and rules can change, so confirm on the official site before you enroll. Open Exam Hub is an independent study resource, not affiliated with GED Testing Service, PSI or ETS. Practice questions are not from a real exam. Narration is an AI-generated voice.
Music
"Fresh Air" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
"Friday Morning" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
"Almost Bliss" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
"Carefree" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Sound effects: Kenney (kenney.nl), CC0.
Images
"Computer Laboratory" by Kiruthikapalani, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Computer_Laboratory.jpg
"Rows of Desks in Lecture Theatre" by Paul The Writer, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rows_of_Desks_in_Lecture_Theatre.jpg
#HiSET #GED #HighSchoolEquivalency